University of Iowa refuses to release Gray's resignation letter

Dec. 10, 2012

Written by

Josh O’Leary

Iowa City Press-Citizen

Peter Gray

Iowa City, Ia. - The University of Iowa on Monday released thousands of pages of documents relating to Peter Gray’s resignation, but officials say they will not make public his resignation letter.

Student-athlete adviser Peter Gray resigned from the U of I in early November after an investigation found he violated the university’s sexual harassment policy. An internal investigation obtained by the Press-Citizen detailed years of inappropriate conduct, with observations of such behavior stretching even into Gray’s first stint at the university in the ’90s.

The records released Monday were response in response to open records requests from the Press-Citizen and several other media outlets, and include emails to and from Gray, documents detailing his hiring, and correspondence from numerous university administrators, staff and coaches.

University officials said they were denying requests for Gray’s resignation letter, as well as documents pertaining to the investigation conducted by the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, citing Iowa Code 22.7(11). The university also said it is withholding emails that are confidential under the same section of the Iowa Code.UI said it is redacting names of students and other identifying information, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

UI said no severance agreement or financial payment exists between Gray and UI.The Press-Citizen is reviewing the documents and will post updates as they become available.